Karnal Municipal Corporation is planning a 20-megawatt (MW) hybrid renewable energy plant along the Indri Escape drain under the Urban Challenge Fund. The system will combine a 15 MW solar facility and five MW flower-shaped wind turbines to create a hybrid supply capable of meeting a substantial share of municipal electricity demand. The commissioner and technical experts visited the site to evaluate feasibility and options for integrating generation with drainage infrastructure.

The scheme is proposed on about 25 acres alongside the drain and will reuse underutilised municipal land while addressing pollution and appearance concerns. The plan envisages channelising the drain to improve water flow, constructing a pillar-based platform to support solar panels without obstructing drainage and landscaping the surrounding area with greenery and open public spaces. Improved access roads are to be provided to enable construction and maintenance. The landscaping is intended to provide pedestrian promenades and informal recreation areas while preserving maintenance clearances.

Electricity produced by the plant is intended to power 182 municipal tubewells, six sewage treatment plants (STPs), boosting centres and disposal pumping stations, reducing dependence on conventional supply. Current annual electricity expenditure is around Rs 20 crore, which converts to Rs 200 million (Rs 200 mn) and the corporation expects the project to substantially cut this outlay. A detailed project report will be prepared and approvals will be sought under the Urban Challenge Fund before execution. Savings on grid purchases are projected to improve budgetary flexibility for other municipal services.

The capital cost is estimated at Rs 110 crore, equivalent to Rs 1.1 billion (Rs 1.1 bn), subject to final DPR figures and sanctioning procedures. Officials emphasise that the initiative aims to transform a neglected stretch into a productive municipal asset while advancing clean energy and self-reliance in power supply. The DPR will assess technical and financial feasibility, operation and maintenance arrangements and projected lifecycle savings. Implementation timelines will depend on funding approvals, technical studies and contractor selection.